Works-in-progress
There are things I know about myself that I cannot say out loud. I tell them to friends who I know will not blink or judge me. Or, like Tony Leung in In The Mood For Love whispering into the hollow of a tree, I cup my hands to my mouth and whisper into my blog.
I love..
I want..
I’m afraid…
Shhh..I’m afraid this is not actually a dessert I am entirely happy with. As soon as I plated up, it immediately looked ungainly and unrefined. Somewhat ugly. However, I wanted to share the pictures, to document how the ideas in my head develop from one dish to the next (and the next will be better, I hope).
This dish stems from my my current obsession with the idea of puddles of sauce or pudding, and edible skipping stones. Such images from nature, like natural works of art inspire me because of the positive emotions they create. That sense of happiness when you see blue skies and perfect clouds, or vast expanses of tall green grass. Poppies in a field. Watching the endless waves rolling towards a shore.
I love a dish with a story, even if it’s not likely that the people you feed will detect it. But if they get as much enjoyment from eating something that I am happy to make, then what more can you really wish for?
Tags: browned butter, cake, chocolate, cinnamon, coffee, hazelnut, ice-cream, plated dessert
anna said,
July 16, 2009 @ 11:51 am
Wow. I love your concept and the flavors all sound incredible. I really don’t see anything ungainly there…uh…yeah. I guess there’s a lot of brown, but that’s how coffee and donuts are, and it sure LOOKS delicious.
Vicki said,
July 16, 2009 @ 11:58 am
The first word out of my mouth when I saw the 1st pic was “pretty”. So I respectfully disagree with you 🙂
tara said,
July 16, 2009 @ 12:05 pm
I adore the intention – puddles and skipping stones sound fanciful and a true pleasure. What a perfect thought behind a dessert. Cannot wait to see where you go with this, the flavours sound amazing.
Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said,
July 16, 2009 @ 12:45 pm
Aha! I can very much see the stepping stones! How about a Japanese Gareden inspired dessert next perhaps? 😉
the projectivist said,
July 16, 2009 @ 12:48 pm
i think it would take me about 25.5 seconds for me to eat that.
those little wafer things? i could practically inhale them.
forget spoons.
why can’t you be my neighbour?
cindy said,
July 16, 2009 @ 1:26 pm
i love this y…especially the idea of puddles and skipping stones. magic 😉
cakebrain said,
July 16, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
well, it seems as if you’re in the minority in your assessment of the success of this dessert! Though it may not meet your expectations, it sure does inspire others; but what I find wholly satisfying about your post even though I don’t get to eat the dessert, is your metaphor concerning food and imagery. I like.
Karen said,
July 16, 2009 @ 3:17 pm
Ah Y….always the perfectionist.
This dessert is stunning. That’s all I can say about it.
Sophie said,
July 16, 2009 @ 4:52 pm
Waw,…I am always amazed by your talents!
This is real divine food art!
Julia @ Mélanger said,
July 16, 2009 @ 8:55 pm
Y, I must share the sentiments above. This looks great. I love how you are taking inspiration from things around you to create a dessert. I find it’s amazing how much beauty there is around. Puddles and skipping stones? Very simple but such a large concept. I am always so amazed at how you put your ideas together.
clumbsycookie said,
July 16, 2009 @ 9:39 pm
I’m with you! There’s no greater joy than making others happy and we’re lucky enough to do that thru baking! I think this would make a wonderful breakfast!
Megan{Feasting on Art} said,
July 16, 2009 @ 10:16 pm
I love the idea of puddles and skipping stones. I bet it was delicious!
Anita said,
July 16, 2009 @ 10:26 pm
I think it looks beautiful!! You have such a gorgeous array of flavours, textures, shapes, colours 🙂
Teanna said,
July 16, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
I think it is absolutely beautiful and I love the inspiration behind it.
Howard said,
July 16, 2009 @ 11:46 pm
How about a dessert which looks like a guy with a dodgy knee ? Okay maybe not. But your creation does truly look great, it’s amazing how people can get inspired by different things.
shaz said,
July 17, 2009 @ 1:15 am
Just echoing the words of those before me…amazing how much thought you put into your desserts. I love how lyrical your descriptions are. And it looks fantastic to me – very puddly 🙂
Christie, Fig and Cherry said,
July 17, 2009 @ 1:29 am
Looks cute to me. Like a nicely textured caterpillar with almost-butterfly wings.
Irene said,
July 17, 2009 @ 3:11 am
It looks comforting, that’s what it does. Like churros dipped in a hot chocolate sauce (which is pretty much my idea of heaven, by the way).
Ana Powell said,
July 17, 2009 @ 3:48 am
I found your picture absolutely amazing.
Looks fantastic x
Thip said,
July 17, 2009 @ 6:48 am
An abstract idea!
erin @ dessert girl said,
July 17, 2009 @ 8:15 am
Netflix keeps telling me that I’ll like In the Mood for Love, but I haven’t listened to them yet. It just sits in my queue waiting to be watched. 🙂
Steph said,
July 17, 2009 @ 11:09 am
It was great to read about your thought process behind this, I can’t wait to see how it develops. I have a bad habit of moving on from a recipe before I’m completely satisfied with it. I totally see the skipping stones, it’s lovely and whimsical.
Arwen from Hoglet K said,
July 17, 2009 @ 1:37 pm
I like the idea of whispering into a hollow tree, although you never know who might be living inside.
It’s nice that your stepping stones are different sizes. Maybe you could try crazy paving.
Manggy said,
July 18, 2009 @ 12:12 am
I’m sorry, what? All that sugar must’ve made you crazy, because that is BEAUTIFUL to me. I wish I could taste it so I can give it a standing O!
Eva said,
July 18, 2009 @ 3:33 pm
After scrolling through all the new posts that I hadn’t read yet, this dessert appealed to me straight away the most! I just love different shades of brown!
linda said,
July 19, 2009 @ 3:56 am
Love the idea of stepping stones. Hope your work in progress will become the dessert you envisioned 🙂 Would love to devour this version 🙂
Veron said,
July 19, 2009 @ 11:43 am
I love the textures and different heights on this. If one eats with their eyes, this dessert will definitely be devoured in seconds.
Caitlin said,
July 23, 2009 @ 3:24 am
I definitely love the thoughts behind this dessert, and believe you’re just being overly critical of yourself – it looks absolutely gorgeous and wonderful eat-able to me!
Vanille said,
July 23, 2009 @ 2:49 pm
I really liked In the Mood For Love… great movie !
This dessert is so stylish ! Not at all ungainly as you said. The thing is when things don’t come out exactly how we imagine them…
I wish I could taste it !
Hannah said,
July 25, 2009 @ 1:41 am
Gosh, if that’s an “ugly” plate, then my creations plates are in serious trouble…!